System for the analysis of liquid samples

A system for the automated analysis of liquid samples, comprising:

• a plurality of processing units which react said samples with one or more reagents to thereby obtain reaction products;
• a sample unit which supplies said samples to said plurality of processing units;
• a reagent unit equipped with a plurality of reagent vessels containing said one or more reagents;
• a distribution unit which distributes fluids including said one or more reagents, said distribution unit is provided as a modular unit embodied as a solid substrate provided with a plurality of distribution channels configured to connect to a plurality of reagent channels in each of said plurality of processing units;
• at least one analytical unit which analyzes said samples based on said reaction products, said at least one analytical unit including at least one detector which detects said reaction products,
• wherein each of said plurality of processing units is provided as modular components comprising:
• said plurality of first reagent channels and a first main channel, wherein each of said plurality of first reagent channels are configured to open into said first main channel, wherein said one or more reagents from said plurality of reagent vessels of said reagent unit are supplied from said plurality of distribution channels of said distribution unit to said plurality of first reagent channels and said first main channel,
• a plurality of second reagent channels and a second main channel connected to said first main channel, wherein each of said plurality of second reagent channels are configured to open into said second main channel, wherein said one or more reagents from said plurality of reagent vessels of said reagent unit are supplied from said plurality of distribution channels of said distribution unit to said plurality of second reagent channels and said second main channel,
• a plurality of reaction chambers interconnected between said first main channel and said second main channel via a plurality of first reaction chamber ports configured to directly connect to each of said plurality of reaction chambers to said first main channel and a plurality of second reaction chamber ports configured to directly connect to each of said plurality of reaction chambers to said second main channel, and
• one or more on/off-valves within said plurality of processing units for directing the flow of said fluids;
• and
• a main pump, wherein said main pump and an end of said first main channel of each of said plurality of processing units are connected to generate positive or negative pressure in said first main channel for distributing said fluids in said system.